Accessory support and coupling systems for an accessory support

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a coupling system for coupling a medical accessory to an accessory support is provided. The present disclosure also provides a system for powering a medical accessory with an accessory support.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A coupling system for a medical accessory, said coupling system comprising:
 an accessory support having a power distribution system; 
 a first component supported by and electrically coupled to said accessory support, with said first component comprising,
 a first coupling portion, and 
 a first electrical connector for electrically coupling said power distribution system of said accessory support to the medical accessory; and 
 
 a second component configured to support the medical accessory and be electrically coupled to the medical accessory, said second component comprising,
 a second coupling portion configured for being removably coupled to said first coupling portion of said first component, and 
 a second electrical connector for electrically coupling the medical accessory to said first electrical connector; 
 
 wherein said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion are configured to allow rotating motion of said second component relative to said first component in at least one degree of freedom between a first position and a second position, wherein said second component is supported by said first component in said first and second positions, and wherein, during use, said second component rotates relative to said first component in at least one degree of freedom between said first and second positions such that said first and second electrical connectors are connected in said second position. 
 
     
     
       2. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first component is configured to prevent downward movement of said second component relative to said first component when said second component is supported by said first component. 
     
     
       3. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first component is further configured to prevent lateral movement of said second component relative to said first component when said second component is supported by said first component and where said first electrical connector is connected to said second electrical connector. 
     
     
       4. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein one of said first component and said second component comprises a locking assembly configured to place said first component and said second component in a locked arrangement. 
     
     
       5. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein one of said first component and said second component comprises an indicator device configured to indicate a coupling status of said coupling system. 
     
     
       6. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a deployment device coupled to one of said accessory support and said first component, said deployment device configured to move said first component relative to said accessory support to a deployed state and an undeployed state, wherein said deployed state is configured to facilitate coupling between said first component and said second component, and wherein said undeployed state has a reduced dimensional profile compared to said deployed state relative to said accessory support. 
     
     
       7. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said deployment device comprises a user input device, and wherein actuation of said user input device causes said deployment device to move from said undeployed state to said deployed state. 
     
     
       8. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first coupling portion comprises a spherical portion, and said second coupling portion comprises a spherical recess configured to engage said spherical portion of said first coupling portion. 
     
     
       9. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first electrical connector and said second connector are not connected to one another when said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion are in said first position. 
     
     
       10. A coupling system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first component further comprises a first mounting portion, and said first mounting portion comprises a mounting device configured to releasably mount said first component to said accessory support. 
     
     
       11. A system for powering a medical accessory with an accessory support, said system comprising:
 an accessory support having a DC power distribution system configured to output DC power; 
 a medical accessory that is free from an AC/DC converter and is configured to receive DC power; 
 a first component comprising a first mounting portion, a first coupling portion, and a first electrical connector; 
 a second component comprising a second mounting portion, a second coupling portion, and a second electrical connector, wherein:
 said first mounting portion is supported by said accessory support and said medical accessory is supported by said second mounting portion, 
 said first electrical connector is electrically coupled to said power distribution system of said accessory support to electrically couple said power distribution system of said accessory support to said medical accessory, 
 said second coupling portion is configured for being removably coupled to said first coupling portion, 
 said second electrical connector is electrically coupled to said medical accessory to couple said medical accessory to said first electrical connector, and 
 said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion are configured to allow rotating motion of said second component relative to said first component in at least one degree of freedom between a first position and a second position, wherein said second component is supported by said first component in said first and second positions, and wherein, during use, said second component rotates relative to said first component in at least one degree of freedom between said first and second positions such that said first electrical connector is connected to said second electrical connector in said second position to enable said power distribution system of said accessory support to provide DC power to said medical accessory. 
 
 
     
     
       12. A system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said medical accessory is selected from the group comprising an infusion pump, a fluid warmer, a monitor, a respirator, a physiological sensor, a ventilator, a cardiac monitor, a pulse oximeter, a non-invasive blood pressure measuring device, a digital thermometer, a liquid oxygen module, a defibrillator, a respiratory rate measuring device, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. A system as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising a controller and a proximity sensor coupled to said first component and said controller, said controller is configured to determine whether said second component is coupled to said first component based on a proximity input signal from said proximity sensor, and said controller is configured to selectively control said D/C power distribution system based on said proximity input signal. 
     
     
       14. A system as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising a battery electrically coupled to said D/C power distribution system. 
     
     
       15. A system for powering a medical accessory with an accessory support, said system comprising:
 an accessory support having a power distribution system configured to selectively output D/C power and A/C power, said accessory support further comprising a controller configured to control said power distribution system; 
 a first component comprising a first mounting portion, a first coupling portion, and a first electrical connector, 
 a second component comprising a second mounting portion, a second coupling portion, and a second electrical connector, wherein:
 said first mounting portion is supported by said accessory support and said second mounting portion is configured to support the medical accessory, 
 said first electrical connector is electrically coupled to said power distribution system of said accessory support to electrically couple said power distribution system of said accessory support to the medical accessory, 
 said second coupling portion is configured for being removably coupled to said first coupling portion, 
 said second electrical connector is configured to be electrically coupled to the medical accessory to couple the medical accessory to said first electrical connector, 
 said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion are configured to allow rotating motion of said second component relative to said first component in at least one degree of freedom between a first position and a second position, wherein said second component is supported by said first component in said first and second positions, and wherein, during use, said second component rotates relative to said first component in at least one degree of freedom between said first and second positions such that said first electrical connector is connected to said second electrical connector in said second position to enable said power distribution system of said accessory support to provide power to the medical accessory, and 
 said controller is configured to determine an identity of the medical accessory coupled to said second component, and cause said power distribution system to output A/C or D/C power based on said identity of the medical accessory. 
 
 
     
     
       16. A system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said first component is configured to interact with said second component in a locked arrangement and an unlocked arrangement, and said first component is configured to support said second component in said locked arrangement and said unlocked arrangement. 
     
     
       17. A system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said first component further comprises a third electrical connector and said second component further comprises a fourth electrical connector, wherein when said first coupling portion is coupled to said second coupling portion, said third electrical connector is coupled to said fourth electrical connector to enable said controller to determine said identity of the medical accessory. 
     
     
       18. A system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said controller is further configured to control the voltage distributed by said power distribution system based on said identity of the medical accessory. 
     
     
       19. A system as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a proximity sensor coupled to said first component and said controller, said controller is configured to determine whether said second component is coupled to said first component based on a proximity input signal from said proximity sensor, and said controller is configured to selectively control said power distribution system based on said proximity input signal. 
     
     
       20. A system as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a first medical accessory and a second medical accessory, wherein said first medical accessory is configured to receive only A/C power and said second medical accessory is configured to receive only D/C power.